Street washing apparatus



April 7, 1942. i J CRUME 2,278,976

STREET WASHING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet;

Summa/tov April '7, 1942. J, J. CRUME u STREET WASHING APPARATUS Filed Mayv 16, 194C 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4m Mw m rl@ Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE i John J. Crume, Amarillo,` Tex. Application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,618

2" Claims.

This invention relates to street washing apparatusk and has for one of'itsobjects the production of a simple and effi-cient means for washing streets by flushing or spraying water over the surface of the street from discharge nozzles embedded within the paved surface of the street.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient spray or ushing nozzle which will automaticallyv open under pressure of the waterpassing therethrough, and will close through gravity when pressure of the water is cut off. l

Another object of this invention is the produc tion of a simpleand eicient mechanism so constructed. as to facilitate the sprinkling of lawns and the like, wherein the system is embedded in the ground below the surface of the lawn.

Other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a Vertical sectional View. of a roadway showing the system embedded inthe road bed, certain parts of the apparatus being shown in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional viewtaken on line 2--2of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is -a fragmentary top plan View of a portion of a roadway showing the sprinkling or flushing valvesand one of the traps through which the water maybe turned onand olf;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the flushing or sprinkling valves taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line S-'G of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modied type of nozzle or cap;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the structure shown in Figure 7, the valve or nozzle pipe being shown partly in elevation; and

Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of a portion of one of the Valve or nozzle pipes, showing a sprinkling nozzle or cap.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I0 designates a water main which is buried under the surface of the pavement in any desired location, preferably down the center of the street. A feeder pipe IIv is buried in the center of the street under the surface of the pavement and extends parallel with the water main I0, as shown in Figure 1. The water main Ill is connected to the feeder pipe I I at intervals throughout' its length by branch supply pipes I2. Each branchsupply pipeA I2carries a manuallyoperated v-alve I3 which may be used tocut off thesupply` of waterthroughthepipe I2, should occasion arise-such for Vinstance as in the case of needed' repair or replacement. l

The feeder pipe` I=I carries a plurality of manually operated valves I4 at proper locations throughout the length ofthe pipe I I to manually and; selectively control the passage of water through the Ipipe I-I. A` casing pipe I5 extends verticallyfrom each valve I4 to the surface of the lpavement of theroadvvay and each casing pipe I5 is providedvwith a curved notch I6 at its lower end topermit the lower end of the: pipe I5 to snugly fit over the manually operated valve I4 and properly shield the valve I4. The casing pipe I5 provides awell through which a key II, shown in dotted line in FigureY 1, maybe inserted to openV and close the valve I4 encased by the casing pipe I5. A closure cap I8 ts over the outerend of thefcasing'pipe I5 to normally close the-same and prevent dust, debris and the like, from clogging the well of the pipe I5; This cap I8 extends flush wththe surface-of the pavement of the roadway.

One or more sprinkler .or flushing pipes I9 is carried byfthe feeder `pipe II intermediate the valves Il.y and casing pipes I5 and communicates Iwith the feeder pipe II. Any number ofthese pipes I9 may be used to suit the` convenience of operation. The; pipes` I9 extend vertically from-the feeder pipe Il tothe surface of the pavementLas shown` in Figure. 1. Each-,sprinkler or flushing pipe I9 comprises a lower section 20 and an upper section 2| connected by a threaded nipple 22. The lower end of the upper section 2I is provided with slots 23 formed therein for receiving the ring 24 of the stem 25. The stem 25 is threaded into the lower end of the shank or neck 26 of the flushing valve head 21. The fiushing valve head 2'I overhangs the upper end of the upper section 2| .of the ushing pipe I9 and is adapted to normally close the same. This I head 21 lies close to the surface of the pavement and is preferably rounded upon its outer surface and is provided with a groove 28 which may be engaged by a screw-driver to adjust the shank 2B upon the stem 25 and regulate the distance of lift of the valve under pressure of the Water passing through the pipe I9, thereby regulate the amount or volume of water discharged from under the valve 21. A transverse pin 29 is carried by the shank 26 near the head 2'I to stabilize the shank and prevent the shank from wobbling as it is raised and lowered under pressure of the water. The upper end 30 of the vlower section 20 is arranged in close relation to the lower end of the upper section 2|, and at a proper distance to prevent the ring from dropping out of the slots 23 in the lower end of the upper section 2| when the stem 25 is disconnected from the shank 26.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a modified form of cap or head wherein the cap or head 21a is provided with a half skirt or cuff 3| extending down one side of the pipe 9a. The skirt thoroughly ush the street and leave no trash,

or cui 3| depends from the edge of the head;V

21a for approximately one-half of its ,circumfer-` ence. The skirt or cuff 3| will causewater discharged from under the cap or head 2.1% to be distributed in one direction, thereby providing a directional flushing device to facilitate flushing one side of al road, street and the like, when desired. e

In Figure 9, Ihave shown a further modied form of the cap ori head especially provided'for sprinkling lawns-1 and the like, wherein the pipe I9b carries a sprinkler head 21b slots or slits 32 through which water may be sprayed from the upper end of'the pipe 19h.'

`The head 21b is supported by a shank 2lib which may be connected to althreaded stem 25a similar to the stem 25. Therhead 21b may replace the head 21, shown inFigure 1, when the device is used'as a sprinkler in place of a fiushing means. In this case all other parts of the apparatus are the same with the exception of the head 21h.

From the foregoing descriptiomit should be understood that by opening and .closing the manually operated valves I3, the distance that the street is to be washed may be regulated, and by substituting the head 21a for'the cap or head 21, the direction in which the pavement or street is to be washed may be regulated. Furthermore, the sprinkler head 21b may be used in place of the head 21 whenl the device is used for sprinkling lawns, and the like, as stated above. Furthermore, the waterfmaybe turned on or off in as many blocks as may be desired, and vehicles standing on the streets will noty interfere with the washing nor will they be splattered, due to the fact that the water is ushed laterally of the head 21 close to the surface of the pavement of the roadway from the Acenter of the street or roadway toward the vcurbing or gutter. This apparatus will eliminate the necessity of vusing a street sweeper and portable sprinkler, and the having radiating dust and the like, all such material being washed down the gutter to the usual storm sewer system. The heads 21 will automatically close the outer ends of the pipes I9 as soon as the water pressure is out on", in this way preventing the clogging of the pipes |9. y

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be Vemployed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

AWhat I claim as new is: 1. A device of the class described comprising a flushing element, the flushing element comprising an upper section having a discharge end and a lower section, a coupling for the sections, a valve carried by the upper section and having a closure valve head overhanging the discharge endV of the upper section, guiding means for holding thevalve against lateralplay within the upper section, the valve having a shank, a stem .threaded inthe shank,a ring carried by the stem, slots formed in the lower end of the upper section receiving the ring for adjustably limiting theupward movement of said stem and valve, and the upper end of the lower section arranged in close proximity to the lower end of the upper section and constituting a stop for engaging said ring and preventing said ring from dropping out of said slots.

2. An` apparatus of the class described comi prising a Water-flushing element, means for supplying water to the flushing element, the' waterflushing element having a water discharge end adapted to extend approximately ush with the surface of the street, a vertically moving gravity closing valve adapted to normally close the discharge end of the ushing element and also adaptedto open under pressure of water entering the flushing element for preventing splashing of the water and directing the flow of the water radially from the ushing element close to the surface ofthe street, and a depending skirt extending partly around said valve and slidably Y contacting the exterior of the ushing element streets may be washed in a very few minutes,

for bracing the valve and for directing the flow of water from the discharge end of said flushing element to one side thereof.

JOHN J. CRUME. 

